Anthony Middleton - Live Reviews


Eels

Eels - Brixton Academy, London, 1/9/2010

Despite songs about death and suicide, Anthony Middleton finds the Eels to be surprisingly fun at a show at the Brixton Academy in London


Willy Vlautin

Willy Vlautin - Roundhouse, London, 9/2/2010

At the London Roundhouse, Anthony Middleton admires Richmond Fontaine singer Willy Vlautin's honesty, humour and insight at a show in which he both played songs solo and also performed readings from his new novel, 'Lean On Pete'


Simone Felice

Simone Felice - Hawley Arms, London, 16/2/2010

At the Hawley Arms in London, Anthony Middleton watches the Duke and the King front man Simon Felice put on an intimate and acoutisc rare solo performance


Stephen Fretwell

Stephen Fretwell - Luminaire, London, 15/12/2009

Anthony Middleton watches Manchester-based singer-songwriter Stephen Fretwell at the Luminaire in London play an occasionally mesmerising set of acoustic, but proving too engaging and ultimately struggling to control his audience


Graham Coxon

Graham Coxon - Barbican, London, 28/11/2009

After Blur's reunion shows of this summer, Anthony Middleton watches guitarist Graham Coxon at the Barbican in London play an excellent solo set with a backing band that inlcudes in its line-up folk elder statesman Martin Carty and also Robyn Hitchcock


Duke and the King

Duke and the King - Scala, London, 22/11/2009

Anthony Middleton is impressed by rising Americana act the Duke and the King's infectious brand of Americana at show at the Scala in London


Daniel Johnston

Daniel Johnston - Bloomsbury Ballroom, London, 31/10/2009

At a show at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in London, Anthony Middleton watches Daniel Johnston play an erratic, but heartfelt and ultimately compelling set


Howe Gelb

Howe Gelb - Luminaire, London, 4/10/2009

At the London Luminaire, Anthony Middleton watches Howe Gelb manage to pull off the rare trick of being both consumately entertaining and also genuinely experimental and inspirational


Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen - Royal Festival Hall, 20/7/2009

Anthony Midleton watches a superb set from sixties survivor Marianne Faithfull to promote her new album of covers, 'Easy Come, Easy Go', at the Royal Festival Hall in London


Parish Music Box

Parish Music Box - Bedford, London, 30/6/2009

At the Bedford in London, Anthony Middleton finds that recent Caffe Nero band of the month Parish Music Box able to tap into nerves with their smooth and melodic blend of country rock


Blur

Blur - Goldsmiths College, London, 24/6/2009

At an intimate gig at Goldsmiths Collge, and their first London show since they reformed, Anthony Middleton watches Blur play a set of surprising emotional and artistic integrity


Eagles of Death Metal

Eagles of Death Metal - Brixton Academy, London, 24/6/2009

At the Brixton Academy in London Anthony Middleton quickly finds tiresome American garage rock act Eagles of Death Metal on-stage theatricals and leaden humour


Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes - Roundhouse, London, 22/2/2009

At the Roundhouse in London Anthony Middleton discovers that much hyped Seattle-based group the Fleet Foxes' veneer of innocent charm has hidden and unchanneled depths in a perfect evening of music


Herman Dune

Herman Dune - Scala, London, 17/12/2008

Of continental European and Israeli heritage, Herman Dune are one of the leading lights in the Anti-Folk scene. Anthony Middleton enjoys a fun-filled show of unlikely influences at the Scala in London


Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - St Giles Church, London, 11/12/2008

Anthony Middleton watches Scottish folk artist James Yorkston, although suffering from sound problems, play a set of warm and humour to a rapt audience at the magical venue of St Giles' Church in London


Unbending Trees

Unbending Trees - Luminaire, London, 4/12/2008

Fronted by ex-friar Kristof Hajos, Hungarian group the Unbending Trees have recently released their debut album on Everything But the Girl's Ben Watt's Strange Feeling label. Anthony Middleton is impressed by the impassioned intensity of their performance at a show at the Luminaire in London


Shearwater

Shearwater - St Giles Church, London, 22/11/2008

In the sedate environment of St Giles' church in central London, Chris O' Toole watches acclaimed progressive folk rockers play an emotive, thoroughly engaging set


Fujiya and Miyagi

Fujiya and Miyagi - Bush Hall, London, 24/9/2008

At a show on their latest tour at the Bush Hall in London, Anthony Middleton finds Fuyiya and Miyagi's wispy electronica intriguing, but also often monotonous


Frightened Rabbit

Frightened Rabbit - Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, London,2/10/2008

At a gig at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen as part of the Concrete and Glass festival, Anthony Middleton finds Scottish band's Frightened Rabbit's passionate, desperate and often foul mouthed tales of inadequacy having a lot to offer, but largely lost on an unresponsive crowd


Dodos

Dodos - ULU, London, 16/9/2008

Anthony Middleton finds San Francisco group the Dodos a band of contrasts, but enjoys their percussion-heavy tribal folk blues at a show at the ULU in London